Uncle Toms for McCain? Not So, Say Black Republicans

Oh pulease, spare me the rhetoric you guys call " freedom" & "civil Rights." These "blackcons" are just parroting the same rhetoric their white counterparts spew everyday on corporate media. And what exactly is a "hip hop Repubican?"

How can anyone be shocked that there are hip-hop republicans? These gold and platinum selling artist are in a tax-bracket where they benefit far more under a republican president than a democrat. Keep in mind also the late Easy-E was a big contributor to the republican party in California. Yes, the same one who made millions rappin' bout the hood on stage and CD privately he demonstrated f those n-words. He looked out for no one but himself as do MANY of the rest.

Bob, I doubt that the author is a platinum or even gold selling artist so I do not think you are making much sense here. This is highlighted by the fact that you referenced a marginally successful rapper who died almost 15 years ago. I also do not understand your ire over those who vote republican for economic reasons when democrats do the same.

All rappers who spit about the problems in the hood must be democrats? That's insane.

Black voters might actually take black republicans seriously if they took their anti-union venom out on the police unions.

it ain't that heavy or deep. will one of these freaking black republicans stand up, justify and legitimize McCain's vote against having Martin Luther King Day?

Talk on it LL, these blacks for the Klan, sorry, GOP, are too much with how much they hate Obama, fear of not being the only black in the room has them running boo. When was the last time blacks benefited under a President, as mush as I'm loathe to say it, it was Clinton. The same president who last balanced the budget, so, the black republican are as clueless as Bush. Rap and GOP, they would go hand in hand, both love to stereotype young black men and women.

Was this column written as a joke? It sure is funny!!!LOL

That picture of Bush patting Alphonso Jackson on the head is PRICELESS! It says everything that needs to be said about Black Republicans and the way their White massas view them. I don't see how these Neo-Coons look at themselves in the mirror or sleep at night sucking up to these racists who have nothing but contempt for them. It just boggles the mind that these people expect to be taken seriously by anyone, especially other Blacks!

These two writers have just outlined Bush’s policies over the last 8 years. Now, look at the awful mess our country is in. Another four to eight years? I think not!

As for Ms Alphonso Jackson

Click this kids,

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/alphonso_jackson/

ENOUGH SAID. I won't even mention Ms Larry Elder,and Ms Armstrong Williams CONSERVATIVE QUEEN

GIVE ME A BREAK

By far the biggest indictment against Barack Obama is the fact that the POLITICAL MACHINE that he is a part of already dominates 100% of all Black majority political districts where our people are concentrated and make the final call regarding the policies within and those who are elected to represent and implement these policies. As I listen to the average Black Democrat debate they express a level of cognitive dissonance in their ability to look upon the failures of their local politician as they look for "Republican failure" elsewhere. The fact is that where Black people are concentrated the most: * No Republicans dominate the school system that our people complain are failing * NO Republicans dominate the Public Safety on the streets that our people complain are not safe * No Republicans control the local economic environment which is not able to employ more of our people * No Republicans set the tone of the lifestyle choices that have our people disproportionately represented in health ailments So many Black Democrats depart their houses on election day, walking past all of these ills within and go to the polling place, casting votes that have little correlation to the threats that they have within their community. If "jury nullification" is the act of a jury ignoring the evidence and voting in a manner that is inconsistent with the evidence then many Black voters are guilty of "Voter Nullification" as they seek to advance their IDEOLOGY and PARTY over any particular firm commitment to effective results. Today within our community the popular question is "Why should a Black person vote for a Republican" to which there will not likely be an favorable answer. At a time when 100% of all district wide seats in Black majority districts are housed with DEMOCRATS the Black person who is seeking the best interests of our race rather than advancing his own party should be asking "With respect to the problems that we have.....WHY should a Black person continue supporting the MACHINE that is in power over us?" Sadly many people are trapped in a binary choice of Democrat or Republican. In truth the choice is between SOLUTIONS sought within the AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM versus solutions sought in the domain of RACIAL and COMMUNITY Consciousness and Management toward directed ends. The Democrats have been winning because of the popular strategy deployed within the Black community , the benefits for the Black community are not so clear.

[quote]These two writers have just outlined Bush?s policies over the last 8 years. Now, look at the awful mess our country is in. Another four to eight years? I think not! [/quote] MLee - If we look at the past 8 years, 15 years, 40 years WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY where people that you favor are in power - is there any other descriptor besides "an awful mess" that can be used? Are Detroit, Newark, Cleveland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, St Louis stronger today as a whole than they were 40 years ago prior to the "Progressive Take over"? Or was it the "Republicans under every rock" who destroyed these cities (when they left you all by yourself to implement your own theories?) If only you and other Black Quasi-Socialist Progressive-Fundamentalist Racism-Chasers would appraise the leadership of your local communities in the same way you seek to hold national Republicans accountable.

Dear Richard Ivory- hopefully not of the tower and friend,

You have swallowed the 20th century chicago school economic thinking about economic planning. Hence your 'Reagan tax cuts' story as a means to job creation.

Let me say to you: essentially your choice to advocating having insecure jobs (of the chinesse calibre) as opposed to secure quality jobs (of the European style) with a safety net for the unemployed lies in your belief that IT IS OKAY for american workers to work like slaves, and often hold more than two job but still remain trapped in poverty with peanut earnings. That's what the Chinesse are doing to their workforce.

Any sensible person or slave, who works twenty six hours a day, would know that they would have a better quality of life if they held a proper job that also allowed them time to spend with their family and time on improving their skills. And those in search of such jobs would be better off protected in proper safety nets. Of course businesses interested in own profits would prefer the chinese scenario.

Now, the mandate of a president comes from the public - not business. So, in your mind at least, please let business do its best job in trying to find exploitable labour and other inputs, while allowing government also to do its best job of protecting the general public. That is a balancing act. This act can only be disturbed by furthering tax cuts in favour of one already powerful sector (business) over another - which has less power.

Otherwise, why do you think income inequalities and poverty have grown to these alarming proportions in America since the Reagan era of supporting business at the expense of the rest? It does not work. Sweetheart. Government must stay away from the pocket of business. And furthing tax cuts is leaping into those pockets.

Why is it that we feel we have to owe our allegiance to any political party? Any African American that supports the party that gave power to the likes of Jesse Helms, Newt Gingrich, Strom Thurmond and Trent Lott is either uninformed or is a quintessential handkerchief head uncle tom. Supporting the Democratic Party; which gave us broken families and communities through welfare, urban renewal and aid to dependent children, and fomented the rise of the black pimp...er...black leader class is just as ridiculous. Party affiliations notwithstanding, we should in all good consciousness seek to elect the best candidate. We are no longer on plantations. It's time we act like it.

This guy really needs to get on Comic View, that was a hoot! Maybe he can get a gig with McBush, as that old man really needs a sense of humor like this guy has!

Republicans. I think that there are many things we hold in common, I agree with LL regarding the need for Republican's to stop taking anti-union positions. I am very pro union and am in agreement with many union stances. The problem is when one group Union or Business seek a position that disrespects the others integrity or success. I think we all need to work together to seek the results we want. Lets take "welfare Reform" many Republicans unbelievably opposed it because it was an expensive government program. Nevertheless, the results of the program worked. I think we can work together but from different points. Here is a real story that may help sum up what I mean a wealthy men who visited Mother Theresa in her orphanage in Calcutta ..and asked why do you waste your time with these people Sister Theresa?. You are only encouraging them to remain poor. You are not helping them them by doing this. Mother Theresa looked at the man and said “sir many of the people I work with are so sick and poor they can not move, we have to often feed them ourselves so they can eventually stand. But she said you are right about us helping to much so when we are am finished feeding them so they can walk I will call on you can to help them to learn to fish. Before they learn to fish, they must be able to stand. I have never forgotten this story and it a principle in which I believe Republicans and Democrats can work together to improve our community. HipHopRepublican.com

Good afternoon, everyone. I hope that all is well. This post will be a little long, but I wanted to address some of what was mentioned. I have glanced through the comments and, quite naturally, get the overall vibe that people aren't in agreement with the article that was posted. I respect your points of view and your positions. I do regret, however, that some of the "extras" printed with the comments are tinged with the exact stereotypes and division that we are faced with inside of our African-American community. I apologize for having to address some of the insulting comments that Willie, Charles, and a few other mentioned concerning our backgrounds. For example, I am Black. My wife is not White. She is Black. Neither one of us grew up rich. I grew up in working-class Pittsburgh. My dad still works in a steel mill to this day. I was a scholarship kid from early in my high school career through college, doing work study jobs in order to offset tuition costs. I grew up being the first Black in my area doing a lot of things: first Black QB at 3 different schools, first Black pitcher in my area of any notoriety, first Black representative to Presidential Classroom (again, scholarship) from my area, etc. I was the "nigger on the hill" when I pitched as a 10-year-old on an all-star team (my dad was about to harm that man when he found out.) I was the "nigger QB" for about 5 years at different school. I could go on and on. I faced the racism that we all faced. Not only did I face it growing up, but I still face it today. That leads to the “cronyism.” Because I stand by my affiliation as a Republican, I get ostracized by the Black community as a “sellout crony” and “majority America” because I’m some perceived “token.” Yet, when a stance was taken that was not popular among the GOP but was needed as a Black man, I took it and to this day face flak from some in the GOP because of it; (you may be surprised that others supported me greatly.) I ran for office in 2007 as the ONLY candidate willing to talk about the drugs and violence facing the Black community in a place where railroad tracks separated poor Black people from millionaires and a golf club community in a small town. This same rhetoric – Black Republicans can’t relate to Black people, Republican cronyism, etc. – led to Black people not supporting me in the election. After losing in a close election to “good, wholesome Democrats” that push for affordable housing starting at $200k, guess what the poor Black community has procured as a result? In a town where we have an Ivy League-quality college, we continue to have poor Black children dropping out of school in TENTH grade (if not sooner) and Black people suffering in poverty, joblessness, etc., continuously left out. If anything, Black Republicans stand out on a limb because we are a small minority within the GOP, Black America, and the media. Cronies hang in packs. We are often out there on our own. It makes no sense to be too White for Black people yet always too Black for White people. We can not continue to adopt that political stance. At some point, we must diversity our political stock to make sure that Black people are never left behind. Anon – McCain was WRONG for opposing the MLK Day holiday. No excuse. I do not defend. In meeting Senator McCain, I found that I liked him generally but this issue was a voiced point of contention for me. The same with Jesse Helms and the racially-tinged ads that he was famous for; (I now live in NC and remind some of the stuff that was put out previously.) I can agree with a majority of platform positions of the party and not agree with specific politicians’ actions or specific policies. As a Black Republican, if I am not in place to help change the dynamic and focus of the GOP as it relates to Black people, who will? That is what we as Black Republicans remember everyday, even as we are criticized for our positions. There were people that told Dr. King and others – OLDER BLACK PEOPLE – that they were breaking the mold and being too pushy for change, saying that they should have taken the traditional approach. For us today, the traditional approach has been aligning with the Democrats for everything. Obviously, that has not worked optimally. Therefore, we must embrace our diversity within Black America in order to save and strengthen Black America. Bob – Blacks for the Klan? Funny that you should say that as Obama himself campaigned for a KNOWN KLANSMAN in Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) in one of the first official “acts” he performed as a senator. Black Republicans are no more for the Klan than you are. In fact, Black Republicans were a big reason why the Klan came into existence. That’s for another reply, perhaps... Bob – true that Clinton was in office during the 1990s, but Newt Gingrich’s movement and “Contract with America” was prominent during that time, too. Again, with the America government, it’s about balance with both parties and diverse viewpoints. The Democrats have been in control of the Congress (with Pelosi) since 2006. It’s 2008. Things have been going downhill. Is it just Bush, especially with all of Congress voting for military action? I think that people are very quick to forget that we are dealing with the aftermath of 9-11: the impact on our economy, our perception throughout the world, etc. And just as much as Bush has screwed up in some regards, Clinton had a chance to prevent 9-11(which, in many ways, could have prevented much of the economic downturn and, more importantly, lost of lives) and did not. LL – I stand up against the police brutality that has been going on in sickening resurgence over the past 15 years. I was in Pittsburgh when the cousin of a Pittsburgh Steeler – Jonny Gammage – was killed in BRENTWOOD, Pennsylvania (never thought that it was a coincidence) mere weeks after America was divided over the OJ Simpson verdict. I was in the fight when Pittsburgh led the country per capita of Black men dying at the hands of police officers in the 1990s. Teachers’ unions that protect teachers despite poor efforts with our children in urban schools must be addressed the same as police unions that protect officers that have violent backgrounds, keeping them employed until the point where someone dies unnecessarily. Now, I know good teachers in unions and good police officers in unions, but the system for both must be reevaluated but does not necessarily have to be eliminated. Heru Ammen – I concur, which is why we must affiliate with parties that share our political philosophy and work to change the dynamic that is inconsistent, immoral, or incomplete within those parties. For example, the Republican motto of “pulling one’s self up by one’s bootstraps” is great until one realizes that there are no bootstraps to use in the first place. Blaming “welfare queens” for straining the federal government for money yet uplifting the “welfare kings” (i.e., corporate welfare) is inconsistent and without Black GOPers to call folks out on it, we place all of our eggs in one (of two) political baskets. Same with Affirmation Action...the GOP may be calling for the end of Affirmation Action but that does not mean that Black Republicans are. They hear our voices within the party even when others may not. Persistence – with time – brings change. History shows us this. Connection to the Black community was also brought up. I know that Richard is a volunteer in Harlem, helping out I also am connected to the Black community despite the community often turning its back on me because I do not fit our own established stereotypes. I am tied to the upliftment of the Black community because I have experienced much of what we collectively live everyday, issues that keep us back as a people in America. Everything from becoming a (loving and proud) father at an early age to caring for a parent on Medicare and Medicaid to make sure that she received 3 dialysis treatments a week – I have done. I hit the glass ceiling in corporate American because I did not have a degree (despite already doing the job(s).) Like many of us within the community, I face other issues that directly or indirectly impact our lives. Crime has impacted my loved ones and me. So have health care concerns. So have educational concerns. I have worked with young Black fathers. I have worked with Black children that needed help in school. I have worked on advisory boards to help eradicate issues that impact us all, but impact us harder within the Black community; (“When America has a cold, Black folks have the flu” – Tavis Smiley) Denzel quoted Malcolm best in 1992: Before we are Democrats or Republicans, we are Black... I don’t tell you all of this for some pat on the back. It’s about understanding and, hopefully, moving away from some of the sniping stereotypes and comments that come out when talking politics within our community. I tell you this to illustrate with examples that despite our political leanings, we as Black Republicans look like you, experience what you experience, and ARE WORKING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF AMERICA – PARTICULARLY BLACK AMERICA – WITH THE SAME LOVE, PASSION, VIGOR, SWEAT, AND TEARS THAT YOU ARE. (Caps not intended to yell, but intended to provide emphasis.) I know that Richard Ivory, Claudio Simkins, Dr. Tim Johnson, Don Scoggins, and many other Black Republicans are lined up the same way I am, focused on the same things – trying to improve our (all of us, including those the disagree with us) collective lot, just by implementing policies that we agree with. I am proud of the values of the Republican Party even as I disagree with many of the positions, actions, and legacy that the party has authored over the past few years. For example, I respect that Reagan was president as the critical days of toppling the Iron Curtain transpired. That was beneficial to America. At the same time, I also know that community activities were cut during this time, often leading to a rollback of the successes of the Civil Rights movement. My friends suffered – and some died indirectly – as a result. Although I was not an independent adult during the 1980s, I remember statements of "welfare queens" and other nasty stereotypes circulating from the GOP during the 80s and early 90s. It is because I believe in the philosophic principles of the party AND I believe that the direction of this party must change that I remain active, vocal, and persistent within the party. I believe that the principles of the Republican Party are similar to the values we applied to uplifting ourselves in other insistences in America. The government in America has never been the friend of Black America, and even during the last 40 years of big government and our allegiance to the Democratic Party, we find that we are going backwards in America, not progressing forward. Because American history does not indicate that government has stayed on the side of Black people, it seems to behoove us to advocate smaller government so that we have more determination over our lives (economic, social, etc.) than with larger government dictating to us via socialized healthcare, bureaucratic programs that keeps tight strings on our families, etc. That’s just my political viewpoint, but my heart is with Americans with a knowledge that we as Black people need to rise up out of crisis. MidWest Guy – perhaps we can vibe on your breakdown. There are some things that were mentioned that I feel should be addressed via debate, but I have gone on enough showing that Black Republicans and Black Democrats generally have more in common (via life experience, social perspective on how Black America is treated, etc.) than we expect despite how Black Republicans are characterized. For example, I did want to get to how Obama’s energy position (“no drilling at all”) has changed recently to sound more like McCain’s position. Perhaps we can vibe on that. I’m all about debate and solution. Brothers and sisters, you may not believe us, but we are part of you. We don’t agree on everything, but we love Black people just the same, we are tired of the suffering, and we are doing what we feel is best for our people. We – all of us – will work together and we will succeed together. Thank you for your time. Take care and God Bless.

The quotation marks and dashes did not take from my cut and paste from MS Word, so it may be a little hard to read. If so, please feel free to communicate with me directly via e-mail. I look forward to talking further. Looking forward to working together to uplift Black America.

Lenny please....please....save that rhetoric. John McCain could join Ringling Brothers. His contortionist act is priceless. Are you seriously gonna suggest that Obama has changed his positions and completely ignore McCain's complete flip to pander to the neo-nuts of the GOP?? Are you?? Spare me the "what most Americans want" lunacy regarding off-shore drilling. Most Americans also don't get that highways, bridges, sidewalks and tunnels actually require MONEY when they're yelling about not paying taxes. Most Americans don't have the access of top engineers, scientists, geologists or conservationalists when they talk about off-shore drilling, all they know is they're paying $4 a gallon and if a talking point sounds good, will fall for it. Its deeper than just what most Americans want. I know you didn't put McCain's name in the same sentence with "education"......what in his history indicates to you he gives a rats azz about education? It can't be his own sterling academic record, because it doesn't exist. Was it his support of the failed No Child Left Behind that leaves all children behind? Now there's some bipartisan stupidity if there ever was some. Let me ask you this since you feel the need to prove your "blackness", do you bank with a Black bank? Your investments are being managed by a black investment firm? Are you insured with a black-owned insurance company? Don't worry, I ask this of all black folks, party affiliation has nothing to do with it. I just find that black republicans and black nationalists like those clowns yelling at Obama in Florida, generally have a lot in common. Always talking about what black folks ought to do, but not doing a damn thing themselves, except talking.

Miranda - thanks for replying. Do I bank with a Black bank? Yes. I'm not a rich guy, but I try to put my money where my mouth is. I try to make sure that I give Black business owners a REAL opportunity to have my business. I also try to promote small business owners as well - including (of course) Black businesses. I wasn't trying to ignore McCain's change to try and become more conservative. We could be here forever pin-pointing each position and how each candidate has developed their views. Both are moving to the middle, just as all presidential candidates do after the primary process is over. Personally, I think that it's ironic that the GOP has to cater to a candidate that they have disliked (and, in some ways, disowned) for years as being "too liberal." As well, now he feels the need to become more conservative after a career of being more left than GOPers would prefer. Off-shore drilling...if it were just gimmicky, why is Obama now saying that he would consider it now? Truth is, Americans want to consider the option, especially since China and other countries are going to drill in roughly the same exact spot anyway if we don't. What Americans can relate to (even if they can not relate to engineers, etc., as you mentioned) is that it makes no sense to continue to rely on oil coming from a region of the world that stays unstable. Until we swtich our reliance on oil at such a high rate, we need to provide more of our own oil. Off-shore drilling helps bring that about. And you're right about taxes - things cost MONEY...real money. It's also about what we spend our money on. For example, where I live the town took tax money and spent it on buying a TV cable system while, at the same time, taxes went up in a community where Black people are increasingly unable to keep up on taxes on their homes. The taxes of the town go towards paying for improvements on a cable system, paying for builders' breaks, etc., yet one can reasonably argue (as I did and do) that government has no place in private business (i.e., buying and running a cable system.) This, of course, is particularly the case when undercurrents of crime, illegal immigration, and drugs ravage one part of the town while the other side is prestine. It is THESE types of examples that cause conservatives to scream about rising taxes. When the taxes go up and infrastructure is never addressed? That's a problem. Or - another NC example - when a lottery system is implemented (and we know that poorer communities are usually the ones that participate in the lottery at a higher ratio) for education and the money doesn't get to the educational fund...yes, this is a cause of concern. Rising taxes and spending money without tangible results - especially when people need jobs and better educational opportunities (including job skills training) - is a problem. When this is the case, I argue for lower taxes and capital investment. Regarding education - I do believe that vouchers should be an option for all children, including Black children. The money that is figured into the budget per child should follow that child. If the school doesn't provide the education it should, the parents should have the option to take the child and put the money where it can be best used. Keeping the public school system as bureaucratic (sp) as it is only means that it is still guaranteed to fail. Sometimes it's not about the man or woman that is the candidate - it's about the philosophy that they will promote. Regarding education, it's less about McCain and more about the flexibility of vouchers that he will promote if president. People don't want to look at it from this angle, but history shows that privatizing aspects of society generally improves the efficiency and overall performance of those aspects. There's a reasaon why India, China, and Russia have opened up their societies and applied more free market principles. It's because it works. The same should be applied to our schools before it's too late for our children. More Democrats want to expand the current system that is not working. And proving my "Blackness" - all I wanted to illustrate was that the comments about "...(must have a) White wife" and "not having connects to the Black community" were off-base, inaccurate, and mean-spirited. Disagreement on how to approach the issues is one thing. What was said just wasn't right. Neither is throwing Oreo cookies at Michael Steele while he was on stage or calling Condi Rice "not really Black" (ask Tommy Davidson about that one - on stage recently.) It's just not cool. We as Black people are better than that, right? I feel like we are back in school: if I try to do something different from what is expected (back then - trying to get good grades / now - not lining up behind the Democratic Party every election), then I am trying to be White, etc. It's the same dynamic. Dr. King, Malcolm X, and others died for us to fully incorporate and participate in America, including both sides of the political aisle.

John McCain, Ariz., and all but one of the New England senators. Black Economic Empowerment

I have been voting since I was 18. Since then, Republicans have never gave me a reason to vote. Not one time. Grangted; democrats aren't the best part African Americans should put all of there money on but Obama is pretty much the best candidate right now. I lost respect for Ralph Nader for him trying to say Barack is not black enough. How crazy is that? IF AMERICANS AREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO SEE THAT MCCAIN'S PLANS AND POLICY IS JUST AS BUSH'S, THEN ON 11-04-2008 WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.

Whoa, Lenny McAllister, I thought I had too much to say, lol. You can say a lot without actually saying anything or you can say very little and say a lot. You seem like you have a good vibe goin' on, something I usually don't sense from most Black Republicans. You also seem like you are trying to "change things from the inside". Is this is your strategy for being Black and Republican? And if so how is it working out for you? Instead of being a Black Republican it sounds like you are Black trying to be Republican. Seems like you are fighting on two fronts: Black Democrats and White Republicans. What do White Republicans care for the ills in the Black community? If all your energy is taken up in fighting these two fronts what are you actually achieving?

Lenny thank you for posting this I am a Democrat who understands what you are trying to doing. We as black folks need to be at all tables, we had to force the Democrats to hear our issues..so why not with the GOP. The Democrat Party never reached out to blacks we had to reach in to it. We need to have a voice at every table where policy issues are discussed. Attacking these two brotah’s for staring this dialogue is wrong we should be supporting them. It is shame that we have such a herd mentality in our community. People forget that not to long ago the Democrat Party used every tool to keep us out. The only way we got in was to show up! Gloria